Sri Lanka
15/04/2019: Under construction. Check back soon!!!
=> going back 7 years in my memories takes some time 🙂
2012 – Our first travel far away was towards Sri Lanka. It was also the first time we would travel longer than 9 to 10 days. Back in the time Marie-Claire was not yet convinced it would be something for her, but boy, what was she wrong 🙂
We decided to take a safe approach both from organisational and destination point of view. We joined a group travel from Shoestring towards Sri Lank. Looking back at it, this was a good and safe choice. Sri Lanka is quite civilized and the travel ritme was quite comfortable. So where the hotels, the roads, the daily distance to cover, … and many more.
Day 1: Amsterdam – Colombo
Day 2: Colombo – Marawila
Day 3: Marawila
Day 4: Marawila – Sigirya
Day 5: Sigirya – Polonnaruwa
Day 6: Polonnaruwa (Anuradhapura & Mihitale)
Day 7: Plonnaruwa – Dambulla – Spice Garden – Kandy
Day 8: Kandy
Day 9: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
Day 10: Nuwara Eliya – Bandarawella
Day 11: Bandarawella
Day 12: Bandarawella – Kataragama – Tissamaharama
Day 13: Tissamaharama – Hikkaduwa Beach
Day 14: Hikkaduwa Beach
Day 15: Hikkaduwa Beach – Negombo
Day 16: Katunayake – Colombo – Amsterdam
Day 1: Amsterdam
Yes! We leave towards Sri Lanka. From Schiphol we fly over Dubai to Katunayake, the main airport of Sri Lanka.
Day 2: Colombo – Marawila
From the airport we have a bus trip of about 1 hour (40 km) towards Marawila which lies at a long quiet beach in a tropical environment. It’s a relaxed area which is not yet discovered by tourists. Here we taste from day one the real Sri Lanka.
We stay in a nice hotel with swimming pool, where we take the time to meet the other group members while having a local Lion Beer. We stayed in rooms at the pool side. Each room was a small separate building with a bed and bathroom. Luckily there was airco as well.
Day 3: Marawila
Today we explored the “Dutch Channels” with a small motorboat. We go in small creeks, see palm trees, remote small houses, woman that do laundry, illegal Arrack distilleries. We tried the Arrack, but it was not that special.
In the afternoon we headed to Negombo to visit a local fish market which is nothing to be compared with European fish market. They don’t have ice, freezers and that in combination with the heat, it smells like hell. At the beach they were drying the fish, which was smelly as well.
End of the day we came back at the hotel, which had next to the beach also access to a mangrove where you can water ski. Ideally to check number 9 on Tom his bucket list. The mangrove was the perfect place to learn to water ski as the waves are acceptable and the water was perfect of temperature. It did not take us long before we were effectively skiing.
The European guide starts with some brief technical explanation and then you have to do some exercises on the dry. You learn the movement to get up from in the water to a standing position. When you did a few time, you are ready to go into the water. There is a bar next to the boat to which you hold yourself and when the boats accelerates you can see to get up. As the bar is next to the boat, you don’t have waves and it’s rather easy. Depending on your skills the guide will decide whether you stay at the bar next to the boat or that you can try the real thing. Trying to stand behind the boat is not that difficult according to us, but maybe it was linked to our snowboard and ski skills. It is also a big difference if you stay on the “table wave” behind the boat or if you cross the real waves. As beginner it’s better to take it easy. At the end of our session we were able to make a 180 degree turn behind the boat on the river. Like that you don’t have to stop in the water, waiting till the boat turn and get back up again. For a fist session we made quite some progress and I still cherish this moment. It was cool to water ski. Although it were just the basics, conclusion is the same: we did it! 🙂
Day 4: Marawila – Sigirya
Today we have a trip of about 5 hours (180 km) through tropical plantations towards Sigiriya. This place is famous for its rock fort (aka Lion rock). At the feet of the real fort two giant lion paws guard the fort. Through spiral stairs you can go to the top while passing some fresco’s of King Kasyapa. These stairs are quite busy as you have a constant flow of people going up and going down. Mostly you can safely pass each other, but sometimes you can only go in one single direction. With the temperature and the humidity it was quite a climb. But you should not worry too much Everyone can make it. The view from the top is magnificent. One of the things you can’t catch on the camera.
Day 5: Sigirya – Polonnaruwa
Today we have a 1 hour 30 minutes drive (72 km) towards Polonnaruwa, where you can visit the old ruins. We visited the ruins by bike which where delivered to our hotel and with a gentle ride we arrived at the main entrance of the site. Polonnaruwa, the second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, was established in 10th century. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site. As the buildings are some distance away from each other, exploring the site by bike is really the best you can do.
Day 6: Polonnaruwa (Anuradhapura)
Today we visit Anuradhapura (I still like this name, say it strong and quick, it sounds like cursing), which might have been the most beautiful city 2000 years ago. Next to the huge stupa’s you have the Bodhi tree which is one of the most sacred Buddhist places.
Day 7: Plonnaruwa – Dambulla – Spice Garden – Kandy
Visit elephant orphanage in Pinnawala.
Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Visit Local garden
Visit typical dancing
Day 9: Kandy – Nuwara Eliya
Visit Tea Castle St. Clair
Day 10: Nuwara Eliya – Bandarawella
Visit World’s End
Baker’s Fall
Train ride
Day 12: Bandarawella – Kataragama – Tissamaharama
Visit some sacret Temple
Tsunami Alarm
Day 14: Hikkaduwa Beach
Day at the beach
Sleep at Hikkaduwa Beach Hotel
Day 15: Hikkaduwa Beach – Negombo
Leave from beach to a hotel in Negombo
Day 16: Katunayake – Colombo – Amsterdam
Trucks
In Sri Lanka you have the typical colorful trucks. I really liked them. You have mainly 2 different types of trucks, with or without nose. You see them everywhere and mostly they are honking a lot, certainly when they need to pass or overtake. But overall, traffic was normal and acceptible. Nothing to compare to other countries where we have been, like Nepal (Kathmandu) or India (Hyderabad).
